Apparatus for utilizing momentum of moving bodies



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. A. DILLINGHAM. APPARATUS PQR UTILIZING MOMENTUM 0F MOVING BODIES.

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F. A. DILLINGHAM.

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING MOMENTUM 0F MOVING BODIES.

No. 584,109. Patented June 8,1897.

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FRED A. DILLINGHAM, OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR UTlLlZING MOMENTUM OF MOVING BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,109, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed February 19, 1896. Serial No. 538,925. (No model.)

To (LZZ whmn it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRED A. DILLINGHAM, of North Attleborough, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Utilizing the Momentum of Moving Bodies, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel apparatus for utilizing the momentum of moving bodies-such-, for instance, as moving railway trains or cars-for extraneous work, meaning by extraneous work applied or used at some point other than upon the moving body or train the momentum of which is utilized.

At the presenttime much power is wasted in bringing railway trains or cars to a stop, and if the acquired momentum which has to be overcome in stopping a train could be utilized for work, and by utilizing it for work at the same time stop or retard the progress of the train, a convenient and economical source of power might be had. In an elevated railway, for eiiample, the momentum of the train just before it reaches a station may be utilized in suitable manner to perform work-as, for instance, the storage of a fluid under pressure in suitable pressure-tanks, for actuating elevators to convey the passengers from the street-level to the station, and at the same time bring the train to a stop.

In the drawings I have shown one simple embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 representing in diagrammatical side elevation several parts of an apparatus for practicing my novel method, and Fig. 2 a top or plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in the embodiment of my invention selected and shown as an illustration a or represent the rails of a preferably elevated road-bed upon which railwaycars may travel. Between the rails a a I have in the present instance of my invention arranged two guide-rails I) b of suitable construction, preferably having guiding-grooves Z) in their inner adjacent faces, in which slide the guidepins c c of the actuator c, said actuator being adapted to travel back and forth in and throughout the entire lengths of these guides l) b, one of the ends of the guides, herein shown at the left, Figs. 1 and 2, being preferably downturned, as shown at 12 for a purpose to be described.

The actuator c, as herein shown, is connected iniermediately to the cable (Z by means of a sliding head 0 to which the cable is directly secured, said head 0 riding freely over the rods ciwhich are suitably secured at one end in the actuator and passed through a yoke 0 adjacent thereto, having suitable springs c interposed on the rods between the sliding head 0 and the bolt-heads c. This cable (Z is shown in the present instance as passing through a brace and bufiing block 0 secured to the guide-rails and thence about pulleys d and d and under a pulley d and is attached at its opposite end to a drum e, jonrnaled at e in suitable bearings orsupports 8 arranged at a convenient point.

Upon the shaft of the drum 6 I have herein shown a double cone 6 to the opposite small ends of which are attached at e the two branbhes ff of acable f coiled atits opposite end about and attached to a drum f fast on a shaft f journaled in suitable bearings f arranged at some convenient point, and which also has fast upon it asecond drum ffito which is attached one end of a cable f, from the end of which is suspended a weight f Loose upon the shaft f herein shown adjacent the drum f*, is a large gear-wheel f connected with the said shaft by a pawl f" and ratchet f so that rotation of the said drums and their shaft f in the direction of the arrow 25, Figs. 1 and 2, may take place independent of the said gear-wheel f while an opposite rotation in the direction of arrow 26, Fig. 1, will cause like rotation of the said gear-wheel.

The gear-wheel f meshes with and drives a smaller wheel or pinion f shown as fast upon a shaft f journaled in suitable bearingsf and carrying an eccentric f ,the strap f of which is connected by a suitable rod with the piston-rod f (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1) of a pressure creating device or pump F.

The delivery-pipe f of the pressure-creat ing device F leads to one of a series of pressure-storage tanks G, G, and G connected by suitable pipes g, arranged with suitable intervening pressureva1ves 9, said tanks being also connected by other pipes g", in which are arranged suitable check -valves g, the pressure-valves permitting; excessive pres sure to overflow from one tank to the next of the series and the check-val ves permitting the pressure from one tank to flow to the next of the series to replenish the pressure therein as the said pressure is utilized for work.

The outlet or delivery pipe is shown at g The operation of the illustrative apparatus herein shown is as follows: The normal condition of the apparatus is as shown in the drawings, the cables d and f being coiled about their respective drums e and f The train of cars operated upon the rails ad is provided with a suitable engaging device to engage or cooperate with the actuator c, and as the en gine or train approaches a station and steam or power is shut off preparatory to stopping at the station the actuator c is caught and moved with the train in the direction of the arrow 30, Figs. 1 and 2, the first shock being taken up by the springs 0 after which movement of the actuator acts through the cable cl to rotate the drum 6 in the direction of arrow 35, causing rotation of the double cone 6 and the cable f to be wound thereupon, thereby drawing the cable f and unwinding it from and rotating the drum f in the direction of arrow 26, Fig. 1, thereby, through the wheel f and pinion f rotating the eccentric to operate the pump F and store fiuid under pressure in the reservoirs G. Such rotation or unwinding of the drum f acts to wind the cable f 6 upon the drum f and raise the weight f. This operation of the pump to store fluid under pressure in the reservoirs an d the raising of the weight f acts to assist in or may entirely effect the stopping of the train. When the actuator c has reached the limit of its movement in the guide-rails Z), the clownturned ends 11 of the said rails carry the said actuator down and out of engagement with the moving engine or train, thereby freeing the actuator and permitting it to be returned again to its normal position by the gradual fall or release of the weight f which as it falls rotates its drum f and shaft f in the direction indicated by the arrow 25, Fig. 2, to their normal positions, winding the cable f upon its drum f thereby unwinding its branches f from the double cone 6 and winding the cable (1 upon the drum e and drawing the actuator back to its normal position, all without further operation of the pump,which, owing to the pawl and ratchet connections, remains at such time inactive. \Vhen the steam or power is shut off from a moving train preparatory to bringing it to a stop, the momentumv which the moving train or body has acquired is ordinarily thrown to waste by the usual methods of braking and stopping the train. In accordance with one form of my invention, as herein illustrated, however,

this acquired momentum of the moving train or body is caused through the mechanism described, or equivalent mechanism, to store a power, preferably fluid under pressure, as described, which also acts to gradually bring the train to a stop. hen, by successive operations of the mechanism, the pressure-tank t has been filled with fluid to the predetermined pressure, the surplus gradually works oii' through its pressure-valve into the next tank or reservoir of the series, and when that is filled with fluid to the desired pressure its surplus is worked 01f to the neXt tank of the series, and so on until all are filled to the required pressure. This pressure maybe utilized for any purpose for which it is adapted. and when by continued use the pressure in the first tank has become materially reduced that in the other tank of the series will gradually work through the check-valves to replenish it.

I prefer that my invention should be used in connection with an apparatus for storing fluid under pressure, as fluid under pressure is accumulated or stored power in its most convenient form for use, and to this end either air or other gas or liquids may be employed.

In the apparatus herein shown the rapid movement of the actuator when first engaged is first taken up by the springs c and afterward by the small ends of the double cone 0. and as the train draws nearer to a standstill the branches f of the cable f, by working up and upon the larger portions of the double cone, are made to perform more work, which can safely be done, owing to the reduced speed of the train or moving body.

The drums and parts operated thereby con stitute one form of engine, the term engine including any apparatus for performing work by or through a given power supplied to it, as a moving body or other device or source.

The springs c constitute one form of cushion between the actuator and its cable (I, the term cushion including any device which will yield for the purpose of taking up the first shock as the train engages the actuator.

The double cone 6 acts as a compensating device between the actuator and the cushion, its more rapid rotation when the actuator is first engaged acting through its small ends to produce substantially the same movement of the branches f of the cable f as is produced by the larger central portion of the said cone with a slower movement of the actuator as the train nears the stopping-point.

I clai1n- 1. An apparatus for utilizing the momentum of moving bodies for extraneous work,

containing the following instrumentalities, viz: an actuator adapted to be engaged by the moving body, a cable, and means operated thereby for performing extraneous work. and a cushion interposed between the said actuator and cable, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for utilizing the momentum of moving bodies for extraneous work, an actuator to be en gaged by the moving body, an engine supplied with power by movement of the said actuator, and intervening coinpensating mechanism to receive the initial rapid impulse of the moving body and trans init the same with the same force that it transmits the slower subsequent impulse of said body, to operate, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for utilizing the womentuin of moving bodies for extraneous work,v

an actuator to be engaged by the moving body, an engine supplied with power by the movement of said actuator, a cable between said engine and actuator for transmitting said movement, said cable being connected to said actuator bymeans of an intervening cushion, said cushion comprising a plate secured to the end of said cable, a guide-rod secured to said actuator passed through said plateand having a head at its free end, and a coiled spring threaded over said guide-rod and a second cable secured at one end to said engine and having its other end provided with two branches secured respectively to either apex of said double cone, all combined substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED A. DlLLINGI-IAM.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, AUGUSTA E. DEAN. 

